JPS63109076A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable efficient saving of electric power, by making the most of a preheating function by controlling the preheating function according to a command from a host computer. CONSTITUTION:At the time of printing by a printer 2 set in a preheated state, a cancel signal 10 applied by a signal-adding means 3 is first outputted from an output means 5 to a receiving means 7. With the signal received by the receiving means 7, a controlling means cancels a preheating function 4. A after a predetermined period of time T necessary for the printer 2 to become able to print has passed from the cancellation of the preheating function 4, an operating signal 12 from the signal-adding means 3 is added to printing data 11 read from a printing data memory 6, and the signal thus obtained is transmitted from the output means 5 to the receiving means 7. A printing means 9 performs printing according to the printing data 11, and immediately after the printing is finished, the operating signal 12 causes the printing means 8 to restart the preheating function 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention provides an r
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(0) Prior Art Conventionally, in this type of printing device, for example, a printing device using an electronic printer, the printer is equipped with a heat fixing device and a preheating function that maintains the temperature at a lower temperature than during use. When printing, the preheating function is canceled before printing starts to raise the heating temperature of the heating chamber RI device to a predetermined value, and after printing is completed, the preheating function is activated to lower the heating temperature. In this way, the power consumed by the printer is reduced to l1fBff.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in such printing devices, the printer and the host computer are generally located at a considerable distance, so the operator handling the host computer has trouble printing. It is a hassle to have to go to the printer and operate the preheating function each time the printer is used.Furthermore, even if an operator is waiting at the printer, it is unclear when printing will start and end. There was a problem that it was difficult to activate the preheating function in a timely manner.

This invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and it is possible to efficiently save power by operating the printer's preheating function in response to commands from the host computer and making full use of the preheating function. The present invention provides a printing device.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems This invention provides a printing device comprising a printer having a preheating function and a host computer that sends a print data signal to the printer, in which the host computer cancels the preheating function of the printer. The printer includes signal adding means for adding a release signal and an activation signal for activating the preheating function before and after print data, respectively, and the printer executes the release and activation of the preheating function in response to the release and activation signals from the host computer. The printing bag is characterized in that it is equipped with a control means for controlling the printing bag.

Alternatively, the host computer and the printer may be provided with a means by which data can be exchanged with each other, and the host computer may send an activation or cancellation signal to the printer after confirming the operating state of the preheating function of the printer. good.

(E) Operation The host combination coater sends signals with release and activation signals added before and after print data to the printer. In the printer, the driving means first cancels the preheating function in response to the cancellation signal, and when printing is completed based on subsequently received print data, the driving means further activates the preheating function in response to the activation signal. Therefore, since the preheating function operates reliably during periods other than the printer's printing period, power is efficiently saved.

(f) Examples Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples shown in the drawings. Note that this invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention,
1 is a host combination coater; 2 is a printer; 3 is a signal adding means for adding a release signal for canceling the preheating function 4 of the printer 2 and an activation signal for activating the preheating function 4 to the print data retrieved from the print data memory 6; Reference numeral 5 denotes a sending means for sending print data and additional signals to the printer 2; 7 a receiving means for receiving signals from the sending means; and 8, canceling and activating the preheating function 4 in response to the received release signal and activation signal. 9 is a printing device that prints based on the received print data.

In such a configuration, when printing is performed by the printer 2 in the preheated state, first, the release signal 10 added by the signal adding means 3 is sent from the sending means 5 to the receiving means 7, as shown in FIG. When the receiving means 7 receives this, the control means cancels the preheating function 4. After the preheating function 4 is canceled and a predetermined time T has elapsed during which the printer 2 becomes capable of printing, the operation signal 12 from the signal adding means 3 is added to the print data 11 from the print data memory 6 and is received from the sending means 5. The information is transmitted to the means 7.

The printing means 9 performs printing according to the printing data 11, and as soon as the printing is completed, the control means 8 activates the preheating function 4 again according to the activation signal 12. Also, in this example,
As shown in FIG. 2, a time T is provided between the release signal 10 and the print data, but the printer 2 is provided with a memory for storing the signal data received by the receiving means 7, and outputs the signal and data. If the timing is controlled by the printer 2, it is also possible to set the time T=o.

In this way, the operation of the preheating function is automatically controlled by the signal added to the print data, so that the effectiveness of the preheating function is fully exhibited, and efficient power saving is achieved.

(g) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, the preheating function is always automatically activated when the printer is not printing, so that efficient power saving is achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the signals shown in FIG.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a printing device comprising a printer having a preheating function and a host computer that sends a print data signal to the printer, the host computer sends a release signal for canceling the preheating function of the printer and a release signal for canceling the preheating function. The printer includes a signal adding means for adding an activation signal before and after the print data, respectively, and the printer includes a control means for causing the preheating function to execute the cancellation and activation according to the cancellation and activation signal from the host computer. A printing device featuring: